USGA introduces international qualifying for US Open

Two international qualifying sites will be among the 13 sectional qualifiers held to determine spots for the 2005 US Open, the United States Golf Association has announced. The 36-hole international qualifiers will be conducted at Ono Golf Club near Kobe, Japan, on May 30 and at Walton Heath Golf Club near London, England, on June 6. The remaining 11 sectional qualifiers will be held from June 6-7 at sites in the US.

The 2005 US Open will be held from June 16-19 at Pinehurst (No. 2 Course) Resort in Pinehurst, N.C. Sectional qualifiers historically determine roughly 80 spots in the 156-player US Open field, with the remaining golfers having earned full exemptions from having to qualify.

The move is intended to encourage participation from a growing number of international players who are exempt from first-stage qualifying (local) but who, historically, have not competed in the final stage of qualifying (sectional) in the USA because of scheduling and travel-related issues.

The Japan qualifier will be conducted with assistance from officials of the Japan Golf Association, while the England qualifier will be aided by officials from the European PGA Tour and the R&A.